Strip cutting and mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length and for sealing such a severed strip portion in a mount, wherein the apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutting member, (b) a strip retaining member and (c) a mount sealing mechanism. Upon initial movement of the cutting member toward a strip portion disposed in a mount, a spring is actuated to urge the retaining member from a rest position to a position in which the retaining member firmly holds the strip portion against the mount. In this way, the retaining member serves to prevent the strip portion from being displaced from the mount when the cutting member severs the strip portion from the remaining strip length. Thereafter, the mount and the severed strip portion are transported with the retaining member (which still holds the severed strip portion against the mount) toward the mount sealing mechanism. After movement of the mount and the severed strip portion to the mount sealing mechanism, the spring is actuated to return the retaining member to the rest position.

United States Patent [1 1 Brown Dec. 25, 1973 STRHP CUTTING AND MOUNTING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Gordon P. Brown, Rochester, NY.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, N.Y.

22 Filed: Jan. 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 218,949

Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Att0rneyW. H. J. Kline et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length and for sealing such a severed strip portion in a mount, wherein the apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutting member, (b) a strip retaining member and (c) a mount sealing mechanism. Upon initial movement of the cutting member toward a strip portion disposed in a mount, a spring is actuated to urge the retaining member from a rest position to a position in which the retaining member firmly holds the strip portion against the mount. In this way, the retaining member serves to prevent the strip portion from being displaced from the mount when the cutting member severs the strip portion from the remaining strip length. Thereafter, the mount and the severed strip portion are transported with the retaining member (which still holds the severed strip portion against the mount) toward the mount sealing mechanism. After movement of the mount and the severed strip portion to the mount sealing mechanism, the spring is actuated to return the retaining member to the rest position.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures STRIP CUTTING AND MOUNTING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 197,426, entitled MOUNT SEALING AIPARATUS, filed in the name of David N. Schwardt on Nov. 10, 1971. Reference is further made to commonly assigned copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 197,427, entitled MOUNT SEALING APPARATUS, filed in the name of Gordon P. Brown on Nov. 10, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length and for sealing such a severed strip portion in a mount. More particularly, the present invention relates to strip cutting and mounting apparatus wherein such apparatus is adapted to retain a strip portion in a mount during severence of the strip portion from a remaining strip length.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is often times desirable to support an information bearing medium on a mount, whereby information on such medium may be correlated with information on the mount and/or the mount may serve as a convenient means for handling such medium. This has been accomplished in the past by first providing a mount blank, consisting essentially of two sections foldable about a hinge or crease-line extending between the mount sections. The two mount sections are each formed with a window aperture, the window apertures being disposed to register upon folding the mount blank about the hinge and arranging the mount sections in overlying relation. Prior to folding the mount blank, an information bearing medium is placed on one of the two mount sections across a window aperture so that, upon arranging the mount sections in overlying relation, the information bearing medium will be located between the mount sections and will be visible through either of the window apertures. Thereafter, to maintain the information bearing medium in registration with the window apertures, the two overlying mount sections are sealed together, generally by pressure-activated or temperature-activated adhesive material disposed on an interior face of at least one of the mount sections.

One example of the foregoing practice which has gained wide-spread acceptance is found in the photographic field. l-Iere, a film frame or film transparency is severed from an exposed length of film strip and sealed in a film mount, for viewing of the film frame generally by image projection. Securing the film frame in the film mount involves the several steps of placing the film frame on the interior face of one of the two mount sections, severing the film frame from the remaining film strip length, folding another of the two mount sections over the first-mentioned mount section and the interposed film frame, and sealing the two mount sections together with the film frame in place between them.

The act of severing the film frame from the remaining film strip length (when the film frame is disposed on the interior face of one of the two mount sections) can cause the film frame to shift out of registration with the window aperture in the last-mentioned mount section.

It is therefore preferable that some means he provided for firmly holding the film frame against the mount section during the film cutting. Examples of such film frame holding means are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,302,561 and 3,043,363. These patents generally disclose a cutter knife, which is pivotable to sever the film frame from the remaining film strip length, and a flexible member, which is carried by the cutter knife and extends laterally therefrom so as to precede the cutter knife and hold down the film frame when the cutter knife is pivoted to cut the film strip. However, since the cutter knife and the flexible member are connected together, the force exerted by the flexible member in holding the film frame against the film mount will vary according to the force with which the cutter knife is pivoted to cut the film strip. If the cutter knife is quickly pivoted toward the film frame, the flexible member will severely bear down on the film frame and thus possibly misshape or otherwise damage the film frame.

As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,032,561 and 3,043,363, upon withdrawing the cutter knife from the severed film frame, the flexible member will be similarly withdrawn. Thereafter, the film mount and the severed film frame are conveyed to a mount sealing mechanism; however, during such conveyance the severed film frame is free to move out of registration with the mount windows since the flexible member no longer holds the severed film frame against the film mount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide strip cutting and mounting apparatus which is improved so as to avoid the foregoing difficulties existing with respect to those devices previously known.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed, in detail hereinafter, apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length and for sealing such a severed strip portion in a mount, wherein the apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutting member, (b) a strip retaining member and (c) a mount sealing mechanism. Upon initial movement of the cutting member toward a strip portion disposed in a mount, a spring or other suitable device is actuated to urge the retaining member from a rest position to a position in which the retaining member firmly holds the strip portion against the mount. In this way, the retaining member serves to prevent the strip portion from being displaced from the mount when the cutting member severs the strip portion from the remaining strip length. Moreover, the retaining member relies on the constant urging force of the spring for holding the strip portion against the mount, rather than relying on the severing force of the cutting member as suggested by the prior art described hereinbefore. Thereafter, the mount and the severed strip portion are transported with the retaining member (which still holds the severed strip portion against the mount) toward the mount sealing mechanism. After movement of the mount and the severed strip portion to the mount sealing mechanism, the spring is actuated to return the retaining member to the rest position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of such invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an information bearing strip and a mount blank, with which the strip cutting and mounting apparatus of the present invention can be used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the strip cutting and mounting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and showing the information bearing strip and the mount blank as they are initially received by such apparatus for strip cutting and mount sealing;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a segment of the strip cutting and mounting apparatus (the information bearing strip and the mount blank being omitted), showing movement of a strip retaining member of such apparatus;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are side elevation views, in section, of the strip cutting and mounting apparatus, showing the manner in which a portion of the information bearing strip is severed from a remaining strip length and then sealed in the mount blank; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevations views, insection, of the strip cutting and mounting apparatus, showing the manner in which the different members of such apparatus are returned to an initial or starting positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It may be well, before proceeding with the description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, to first consider a mount blank 1 with which such invention embodiment can be used. As best shown in FIG. 1, the mount blank 1 is generally of the kind provided with'(a) two hinged, resiliently flexible mount sections 2 and 3 which can be folded one over another, (b) several openings 4 in the mount section 2 and several pins 5 projecting from the mount section 3 and adapted to respectively extend through the several openings 4 upon folding one mount section over another. The mount section 3 has a frame or peripherally raised portion 6 which is constructed so that, upon folding one mount section over another, the mount section 2 will be snugly received in the frame. Further as shown in FIG. 1, two window apertures 7 and 8 of substantially the same size are formed in the mount sections 2 and 3. The mount windows 7 and 8 are disposed to exactly register upon folding one mount section over another.

The mount section 3 has a nest or relieved portion 9 which is disposed about the window aperture 8 and which is adapted to receive an information bearing medium, such as a film transparency or film frame it), in the manner most clearly illustrated by FIG. I. Thereafter, the film frame 10 is secured in the mount 1. Briefly described, securing the film frame 10 in the mount 1 involves the successive steps of severing the film frame from a remaining film strip length ll, folding the mount section 2 over the mount section 3 and the interposed film frame, and sealing the two mount sections together with the severed film frame in place between them. As can be appreciated from the illustration in FIG. 1, upon folding the mount section 2 over the mount section 3, an image portion 12 of the severed film frame 10 will be visible through both of the mount windows 7 and 8. Moreover, an identification or index number 13, imprinted on the film frame 10, will be visible through a window aperture 14 on the mount section 2.

Coming now to a preferred embodiment of the present invention (which is adapted to effect the foregoing steps for securing the film frame 10 in the mount ll), there is shown in FIG. 2 a film cutting and mounting apparatus generally indicated by the reference number 15. The cutting and mounting apparatus 15 is provided with a table or platform 16 having a substantially planar top surface l7 along which a hollow carriage 18 can be moved in opposite directions indicated by arrows l9 and 2d. The carriage l8 pivotally supports a film retaininglever, the specific function of which will be described in detail hereinafter and which is generally indicated by the reference number 21. As can be most clearly seen in FIG. 3, two bearings 22 and 23 are disposed on oppositely spaced, carriage end walls 24 and 25 to support the retaining lever 21 for pivotal movement between two positions A and B (respectively illustrated by showing the retaining lever in full and broken lines). The carriage 18 includes an L-shaped depending member 26 which extends through a slot 27 in the table surface 17 (see FIG. 2). A helical tension spring 28 having two opposite ends 29 and 3t) interconnects the retaining lever 21 and the carriage member 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the spring end 29 is coupled to the retaining lever 21 for pivotal movement therewith and the spring end 30 is coupled to the carriage member 26 so as to remain stationary during pivotal movement of the retaining lever. Accordingly, the tension spring 28 serves as an overcenter spring which is adapted to urge the retaining lever 21 to positions A and B. More specifically, as viewed in FIG. 3, if the retaining lever 21 is pivoted in a clockwise direction out of position A, the overcenter spring 28 will be actuated to urge the retaining lever to position B. Conversely, if the retaining lever 21 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction out of position B, the overcenter spring 28 will be actuated to urge the retaining lever to position A.

The retaining lever 21 includes an arm member 31 which extends through a slot 32 in the carriage 1 8, as shown in FIG. 3. Opposite ends 33 and 34 of the slot 32 cooperate with the retaining lever arm 31 to effect two stops for limiting pivotal movement of the retaining lever 21 between positions A and B.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a cutter blade 35 is fastened to a blade support 36, the blade support being provided with a lever member 37 which is pivotally connected by a coupling pin 38 to a side wall 39 of the table 16. Thus the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 can be pivoted in a vertical plane, as viewed in FIG. 5, about the pin 38. The blade support lever 37 extends through a slot 40 in the table surface 17. Opposite ends 41 and 42 of the slot 40 cooperate with the blade support lever 37 to effect two stops for limiting pivotal movement of the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35.. A helical tension spring 43, interconecting the blade support lever 37 and the table side wall 39, urges the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 to an idle or normal position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. When the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 are in the idle position, the blade support lever 37 is held against the slot end 42 by the tension spring 43 (see FIG. 5).

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the blade support 36 has a tab or projecting member 44 which abuts against the retaining lever 21 when the retaining lever is disposed in position A and the blade support and the cutter blade 35 are disposed in the idle position. Should the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 be initially pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, out of the idle position, the tab 44 will simultaneously pivot the retaining lever 21 in the same direction out of position A. Upon such occurrence, the overcenter spring 28 will be actuated to urge the retaining lever 21 to position 8 (see FIG. 3). Continued pivotal movement of the blade support lever 36 and the cutter blade 35 in the clockwise direction will result in movement of the cutter blade to a cutting position shown in FIG. 4.

Now considering the operation of the film cutting and mounting apparatus 15, if the open mount blank ll has been placed on the table surface 17 in the manner shown by FIG. 2, and the film frame 10 is then advanced by any suitable film advancing mechanism (not shown) into the mount nest 9, the film frame 10 will be disposed to be severed from the remaining film strip length 11 by the cutter blade 35. When the operator initially pivots the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the overcenter spring 28 is actuated to urge the retaining lever 21 to position B (as described in detail hereinbefore). In position B, as shown in FIG. 3, a film retaining finger 45 of the retaining lever 21 obliquely extends into the table surface slot 27. However, since the mount blank 1 has been placed across the table surface slot 27, the retaining finger 45 is prevented from entering such slot and, instead, will be urged into abutment against the film frame 10 to firmly hold the film frame on the mount section 3 in preparation for the film cutting. Upon continued pivotal movement of the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 (following the retaining lever 21), the cutter blade will be moved to the cutting position shown in FIG. 4, thereby severing the film frame 10 from the remaining film strip length 11. As is evident, the retaining finger 45 (relying on the constant urging force of the spring 28) prevents the film frame 10 from being displaced from the open mount blank 1 during the film cutting. Thereafter, if the operator should release the cutter blade 35, the tension spring 43 will return the blade support 36 and the cutter blade to'the idle position (see FIG. 5). As the blade support 36 and the cutter blade 35 are retracted, the retaining lever finger 45 continues to bear against the severed film frame 10. Thus, withdrawal of the cutter blade 35 from the severed film frame 10 does not cause displacement of the severed film frame from the open mount blank 1 (by adherence of the severed film frame to the cutter blade).

If the operator should now move the carriage 18 and the retaining lever 21 (which still holds the severed film frame 10 against the mount section 3) along the table surface 17, in the direction indicated by the arrow 19, the severed film frame and the open mount blank 1 will accordingly be pushed in the same direction (see FIG. 5). Upon such movement, the mount section 2 will be advanced into abutment against a wall 46 which, as viewed in FIG. 5, is disposed above and spaced from the table surface 17. Thereafter, the open mount blank 1 will be advanced between the table surface 17 and a bottom edge 47 of the wall 46, thereby causing the mount section 2 to pivot toward the mount section 3 and the severed film frame 10. A mount cam plate 48,

extending from the wall edge 47 and inclined toward a mount exit edge 49 of the table surface 17, serves to further pivot the mount section 2 toward the mount section 3. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, upon passing between the table edge 49 and the mount cam plate 48, the mount section 2 (which is resiliently flexible) will be folded over the mount section 3 and the interposed film frame 10.

Located immediately downstream from the mount cam plate 48, there is shown most clearly in FIG. 2, first and second rollers 50 and 51 which are supported in parallel spaced relation for enabling the closed or folded mount blank 1 (i.e. a mount blank whose mount sections 2 and 3 are disposed in overlying relation so that the several mount pins 5 respectively extend through the several mount openings 4) to be moved between such rollers. Roller shafts 52 and 53 extend respectively within bearing slots 54, 55 (spaced on either side of the first roller 50) and bearing apertures 56, 57 (spaced on either side of the second roller 51). Since the bearing slots 54, 55 and the bearing apertures 56, 57 are disposed in fixed spaced relation, the first roller 50 is supported for movement toward and away from the second roller 51 in opposite directions indicated by arrows 58 and 59 (see FIG. 2). Moreover, the bearing slots 54, 55 and the bearing apertures 56, 57 are spaced from each other so as to effect (1) a minimum spaced distance between the rollers 50 and 51 which is slightly less than the thickness dimension of the closed mount blank 1, and (2) a maximum spaced distance between the rollers which is substantially greater than the thickness dimension of the closed mount blank. The significance of such minimum and maximum spacing between the rollers 50 and 51 will become apparent hereinafter. To normally maintain a minimum spaced distance between the first and second rollers 50 and 51, helical compression springs 60 and 61 are disposed within the bearing slots 54 and 55 in the manner illustrated by FIG. 2, so as to urge the first roller toward the second roller.

Two resiliently compressible annulus members 62 and 63, preferably in the form of rubber O-rings, are disposed peripherally about spaced annular segments of the first roller 50 and normally in abutment against the second roller 51 (see FIG. 2). The O-rings 62 and 63 are partially received in circumferential grooves 64 and 65 on the first roller 50, so as to secure the O-rings on the first roller for rotation therewith.

Referring now to the mount sealing operational sequence shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (and described more fully in commonly assigned copending U.S. Patent application Ser. Nos. 197,426 and 197,427 cross referenced hereinabove), upon exiting from between the table surface 17 and the mount cam plate 48, the folded mount blank 1 is first advanced into abutment against the second roller 51 and then deflected by the second roller into abutment against the first roller 50. Thereafter, the mount blank 1 is moved between the first and second rollers 50 and 51 so that the mount section 3 rides over the second roller (which now serves as a mount back-up or support roller) and the several mount pins 5 are peened respectively over the several mount openings 4 by the first roller. Such pin peening results from the rigid composition of the rollers 50 and 51, which are preferably constructed of a metallike material. The O-rings 62 and 63 are spaced apart on the first roller 50 in order to bypass the several mount pins as the folded mount blank 1 is moved between the first and second rollers. Moreover, since the O-rings 62 and 63 are disposed to normally abut against the second roller 51, theO-rings will ensure that the mount sections 2 and 3 remain in overlying or contiguous relation during the roller-induced mount flexing, occurring as an incident to the pin peening. Accordingly, upon peening the several mount pins 5 over the several mount openings 4, the folded mount blank 1 will be sealed with the severed film frame securely held in place between the overlying mount sections 2 and 3.

To facilitate movement of the folded mount blank 1 between the first and second rollers 50 and 51, the rollers (and the O-rings 62 and 63) are driven in opposite rotational directions indicated by arrows 66 and 67 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Such rotational drive of the rollers 50 and 51 is effected by an appropriate drive motor (not shown) and by two gear wheels 68 and 69 which are disposed'on the roller shafts 52 and 53 so as to provide a driving connection between the rollers (see H6. 2). Upon introduction of the folded mount blank 1 between the rollers 50 and 51, the rubber O-rings 62 and 63 serve to draw the mount blank between the rollers. Thereafter, once the several mount pins 5 are peened over the several mount openings 4, the sealed mount 1 is ejected from between the rollers 50 and 51 and advanced down a slide 70 into a collection bin 71 (see FIG. 2).

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, when the folded mount blank 1 is received between the first and second rollers 50 and 51, the first roller is slightly moved away from the second roller (against the urging of the compression springs 54 and 55) in the direction indicated by the arrow 58, since the thickness dimension of the folded mount blank is slightly greater than the minimum spaced distance between the rollers (as described in detail hereinbefore). In this way, the rollers 50 and 51 will be brought to bear firmly against the overlying mount sections 2 and 3 so as to effect peening of the several mount pins 5 over the several mount openings 4. Such movement of the first roller 50 away from the second roller 51 does not disconnect the gear wheels 68 and 69. If for some reason the operator wishes to further space the first and second rollers 50 and 51 when the folded mount blank 1 is received therebetween, in order to remove the mount blank, the

first roller can be manually moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 58 until the maximum spaced distance between the rollers is reached.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, once the mount 1 has completely exited from between the table surface 17 and the mount cam plate 48, the retaining lever finger 45 will no longer bear against the severed film frame 10 and, therefore, is slightly pivoted (along with the retaining lever 21) by the overcenter spring 28 to position B (described in detail hereinbefore and illustrated in FIG. 3). In position B, the retaining lever finger 45 is engaged by a catch arm 72 connected to the carriage 18, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter, the carriage 18 and the retaining lever 21 are moved by the operator along the table surface 17, in the direction indicated by the arrow 20. A reset finger 73, preferably in the form of a laterally flexible helical spring, projecting from a side wall 74 of the table 16 serves to pivot the retaining lever arm 31 (along with the retaining lever 21) in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8, upon movement of the retaining lever arm against the reset finger. Accordingly, the retaining lever 21 is pivoted out of position B and separated from the catch arm 72; whereupon, the overcenter spring 28 is actuated to return the retaining lever to position A as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. Upon a slight further movement of the carriage l8 and the retaining lever 21 along the table surface 17, in the direction indicated by the arrow 20, the carriage and the retaining lever will be disposed in an initial or starting position as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the operational steps described hereinbefore may be repeated in order to secure another film frame in a mount blank.

It will be appreciated from H68. 4 and 5 that when the carriage 18 and the retaining lever 2! are initially moved along the table surface 17, in the direction indicated by the arrow 19, the retaining lever arm 31 will be moved against the reset finger 73, which is disposed along the path of movement of the retaining lever arm. Since the retaining lever finger 45 is bearing firmly against the severed film frame 10 at this time, and the reset finger 73 is laterally flexible, the reset finger will momentarily be flexed out of the way of the reset lever arm 31.

Although the film cutting and mounting apparatus 15 has been considered for use with the specific mount blank 1 and the film frame 10, such apparatus may be adapted for use with other information bearing mediums and mounts.

The present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an elongate strip from a remaining strip length, wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion on a strip support in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvement comprises:

means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support; and

spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between two actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions.

2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for moving, along a path, (1) a strip support,

(2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion on the strip support.

3. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said retaining member mounting means includes means mounting said retaining member for pivotal movement between said retaining and rest positions; and

said spring means includes a tension spring having two opposite ends, one of which is connected to said retaining member for pivotal movement therewith and another of which is fixed so as to remain stationary during pivotal movement of said retaining member.

4. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an elongate strip from a remaining strip length, wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion on a strip support in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvement comprises:

means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support;

means mounting said cutter for movement between a cutting position, wherein said cutter is disposed to sever such a strip portion from a remaining strip length, and an idle position, wherein said cutter is spaced from such a strip portion;

spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between first and second actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions; and

means, operative upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position, for effecting movement of said spring means to said first actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said retaining position.

5. The improvement as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

means for moving, along a path, (1) a strip support,

(2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion on the strip support.

6. The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein:

said retaining member mounting means and said cutter mounting means includes means mounting said retaining member and said cutter for pivotal movement respectively about substantially parallel spaced axes;

said spring means includes a tension spring having two opposite ends, one of which is connected to said retaining member for pivotal movement therewith and another of which is fixed so as to remain stationary during pivotal movement of said retaining member; and said means for effecting movement of said spring means includes a projecting member disposed on said cutter for moving said retaining member out of said rest position upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position and, in turn, for effecting movement of said spring means to said first actuating position. 7. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and, (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion against a mount in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvement comprises:

means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion against a mount, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion against a mount;

means mounting said cutter for movement between a cutting position, wherein said cutter is disposed to sever such a strip portion from a remaining strip length, and an idle position, wherein said cutter is spaced from such a strip portion; carrier means for transporting, in a first direction along a path, (1) a mount, (2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion against the mount, and for transporting said retaining member in a second direction along said path; overcenter spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between first and second actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions;

means, operative upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position, for effecting movement of said overcenter spring means to said first actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said retaining position; and

means, operative upon said carrier means transporting said retaining member in a second direction along said path, for effecting movement of said overcenter spring means to said second actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said rest position. 

1. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an elongate strip from a remaining strip length, wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion on a strip support in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvEment comprises: means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support; and spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between two actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions.
 2. The improvement as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for moving, along a path, (1) a strip support, (2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion on the strip support.
 3. The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein: said retaining member mounting means includes means mounting said retaining member for pivotal movement between said retaining and rest positions; and said spring means includes a tension spring having two opposite ends, one of which is connected to said retaining member for pivotal movement therewith and another of which is fixed so as to remain stationary during pivotal movement of said retaining member.
 4. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an elongate strip from a remaining strip length, wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion on a strip support in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvement comprises: means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion on a strip support; means mounting said cutter for movement between a cutting position, wherein said cutter is disposed to sever such a strip portion from a remaining strip length, and an idle position, wherein said cutter is spaced from such a strip portion; spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between first and second actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions; and means, operative upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position, for effecting movement of said spring means to said first actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said retaining position.
 5. The improvement as recited in claim 4, further comprising: means for moving, along a path, (1) a strip support, (2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion on the strip support.
 6. The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein: said retaining member mounting means and said cutter mounting means includes means mounting said retaining member and said cutter for pivotal movement respectively about substantially parallel spaced axes; said spring means includes a tension spring having two opposite ends, one of which is connected to said retaining member for pivotal movement therewith and another of which is fixed so as to remain stationary during pivotal movement of said retaining member; and said means for effecting movement of said spring means includes a projecting member disposed on said cutter for moving said retaining member out of said rest position upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position and, in turn, for effecting movement of said spring means to said first actuating position.
 7. An improved apparatus for severing a portion of an information bearing strip from a remaining strip length wherein said apparatus is of the kind provided with (a) a strip cutter for severing such a strip portion from a remaining strip length and, (b) a strip retaining member for holding such a strip portion against a mount in preparation for said cutter severing the strip portion from a remaining strip length, and wherein the improvement comprises: means mounting said retaining member for movement with respect to said cutter between a retaining position, wherein said retaining member is disposed to hold such a strip portion against a mount, and a rest position, wherein said retaining member is not disposed to hold such a strip portion against a mount; means mounting said cutter for movement between a cutting position, wherein said cutter is disposed to sever such a strip portion from a remaining strip length, and an idle position, wherein said cutter is spaced from such a strip portion; carrier means for transporting, in a first direction along a path, (1) a mount, (2) a strip portion which is severed from a remaining strip length and (3) said retaining member, when said retaining member holds the severed strip portion against the mount, and for transporting said retaining member in a second direction along said path; overcenter spring means connected to said retaining member and adapted for movement between first and second actuating positions, respectively wherein said spring means urges said retaining member to said retaining and rest positions; means, operative upon movement of said cutter out of said idle position, for effecting movement of said overcenter spring means to said first actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said retaining position; and means, operative upon said carrier means transporting said retaining member in a second direction along said path, for effecting movement of said overcenter spring means to said second actuating position so that said retaining member is urged to said rest position. 